Tobacco-leaf-stringing machine



Feb. 14, 1928. 1,658,920

- W. EGGERT, JR

TOBACCO LEAF STRINGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1925 Feb. 14, 1928; v 1,658,920

w. EGGERT, JR

TOBACCO LEAF STRINGING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR lfium/v 35507, J'

BY z I,

ATTORNEY I Patented Feb. 14, 1928.

WILLIAM sooner, JR;,ior Bm mms, YORK.

ArENroFF TOBACCO-LEAF-STRINGING MACHINE.

Application filed December 3 1, 1925 Serial No. 78,5353

This invention relates to tobacco leaf stringing machines of the class in which the required number of leaves is suspended in spaced apart relation and in which a needle is adapted to pass through the stem ends of the leaves so 1 as to, draw a string therethrough, with a view tov so stringing, the leaves that the ends of the string may be secured to a lath and the lath hung up in a IO curing shed in the customary manner of cur-V ing leaves which have been pulled from-the stalk as distinguished from doing so while the leaves are on the stalk. This method of handling tobacco for curing it is preferred by the growers'of fine leaf tobacco for use as high'grade wrappers, as theleaves are held spaced apart on the lath substantially as in the machine by which they are strung, f

and it eliminates practically all waste which is due to shed burn; rot or mold. I

In machines of the class referred to, it is customary to suspendfortyleaves of tobacco for thepurpose of stringingthem (of course the number could be varied), and such a great number ofleave's offers much resistance to the passage of, the stringing needle therethrough. Hence, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide an improved needle, for the purpose of which each needle is provided with a long thin shank and a relatively short enlarged head which is provided with a barb or eye to receive the string, the length'of the needle head being preferably only sufficient to take in three leaves as the needle passes through the leaves, so that a, minimum of resistance is offered by the leaves as the needle pierces them.

Another object of the invention is to proof simple construction while at the same time it is providedwith the necessary and convenient means for guiding .and reciprocating the needle, such means being preferably constructed as hereinafter explained.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consistsof certain features of'con struction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and then claimed, with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which d Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved machine, the middle'portion being broken out'so as to. show the machine on a larger scale;

shank; and

vide a tobacco stringing machine which is Fig. 2 is plan of the machine shown in Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical "section of the needle sheath and of the machine;

Fig. 4: is an enlarged transversefs'ection on theline 44 Fig. 1; b

F'g. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectionon the line 55 Fig. 1, a leaf-being shown in broken lines;

Fig. 6 is an enlargedsection on the line 6-'-6 of Fig. 3; l i y Fig. 7 is aside elevation of the needle also showing. the butt member of the needle Figs. 8 and 9 are transverse sections, respectively, on the lines88 and "99 of Fig.7.

The frame any'suitable construction but'it is preferred that it take the general formof a beam, and it is provided with supports 11 which may be attached in any" suitable manner to "a table, wall or other main support, so-that the frame 10 will be held at th desired height from the floor. r j d 10 of the machine maybe of The frame 10 is provided with a, series of partitions 12 arranged equidistantly so as to provide a series of pockets 13 between them,

and preferably the partitions extend in straight alignment. 1 The pockets 13 are open at the bottom and at the front of the machine so as to enable the stem ends of I toba'cco leaves tobe introduced thereto. *A

series of aligned perforations 14 is provided in the partitions 12, and slots 14 open out from the perforations through the front edges ofthe partitions so as to provide open I throats to permit withdrawal of the strung leaves.

Securing means 15 are preferablylocated in the pockets to provide means forsuspend ing the tobacco leaves 16, such means being preferably in the form ofirnpaling hooks which project from the corresponding side of the partitions 12 transversely of the,

pockets, and inthe embodiment of the invention shown these hooks extend towardsthe righthand of the attendant of the machine. Hence, when the leaves are impaled on the books '15 they will hang from the right hand sides of the partitions 12. The

hooks 15 arepreferably in alignment in the pocketsand are "positioned directly beneath the perforations 14. i

' Thepresent inventionpreferably includes an improved leafpiercing andstringing neeneedle is tapered to a point and is provided with a bai'b'2O so to provide an open eye to receive a string. Preferably the length of ithe enlarged head 19 of the needle is just sutlicient to take in or pass at onetime only three tobacco leaves when the needle is passingthroughthe leaves suspended by the machine. In this way a minimum resistance to the -passage of the needle is imparted. Of

course the perforations 14 in the partitions 20 are-large enough to permit thepassage of v the enlarged head of the needle.

A suitable sheath 21 is preferably provided at the right hand end of the machine itoreceive the needle'whenwithdrawn from i the leaves, and this sheath extends in align- ,ment with :the-seriesof perforations 14 in the partitions The sheath 21 is provided "withan elbowlike head 22 which carries a "threaded bolt'23-that passes through a hole -24 in=theframe ofthe machine, a nut 25 being threadedonto the bolt forrigidly securing t'h'e'tubular head :22 in place. Preferably the sheath 21 telescopes onto the tubular-head 22 and is secured rigidly thereto by 'a thumb screw '26. The bore of the tubular head '22 and the bore of the sheath 21 are in alignmentyso that the two bores form 'a chamber into which the needle may be drawn;

The guide member 27 is fixed in the cham- "ber' "of the sheath 2]., preferably being pinched and held in position between the forward end of thesheath and the rear end ofthe tubular head 22. The-holethrough 6 this guide is in alignment with the perforations 14. The shank of the needle is provided with a butt-member 28 which is :adaptedto be guided in the sheath 21 along a line back ofor'to the right of the needle 50 guide 27, which guide also forms a stop 1 against which the butt-member 28 may come in contact to prevent the entire withdrawal of the needlefrom the sheath.

In view of the extreme simplicity and 5 manner lofuse and operation ofthe above described-parts, the present invention lends itself most admirably toa very simple-and :etlicient means of control and operation. To this end the frame of the machine may be provided with a bracket 29 having a socket 30.; fixed rigidly tothe rear end of the sheath 21, and bracket arms 31 and 32, the brackets 29 31 a=nd 32 preferably extending in the samezdirection. ,The operating means for the needle preferably comprises a flexible -the successive leaves ma cable 33 which is preferably composed of two connected sections, the cable being guided over a system of guide pulleys comprising pulleys 3 1, 35, 36 37, 38, 39 and 40. The pulleys 35 and 36 are mounted respectively on the bracket arms 32 and 31.; the pulleys 37, 38 are mounted on the main portion of the frame above the series of pocketc; and the pulleys 39 and 10 are mounted on the bracket 29 at the rear end of the sheath. The pulley 34 is mounted in the elbow head22, preferably just to the right of the series of pockets. The ends of the cable are! firi'nlysec-ured to the butt-member 28 of the needle.a and the cable is led out through the bore of the elbow head 22 and trained in successionover pulleys 3 1, 35 36, 3'7, 38, 39 and 10, the cable at this point beinglead into the bore of the sheath 21. That portion of the cable which is located remote from the .pockets'13 is provided with pins 11 and 42, which-have right and left screw threads, respectively. Said pins being secured to cable ends 13, 1st which form the length of the entire cable which may be moved on a line substantially parallel with the direction of movement of the needle. The threaded pins 11 and l2are connected preferably by means of a turnbuckle i5, so that the cable may be subjected to the desired tension and all slack therein taken up.

Briefly, the use and operation of the machine is as follows: The attendant of the machine inserts the stem ends of the tobacco leaves singly intothe respective pockets 13 and impales the leaves on the hooks 15 so that the leaves preterably forty in number will hang in spaced relation at substantially equal distances apart. The suspending of p be done very quickly one reason being that the walls of the successive pockets act as guides for the leaves when being introduced into the pockets. The leaves having been suspended from the frame, the attendant takes hold of the handle 45. furnished by the turnbuckle or the like. with hisright hand and moves the handle froma point adjacent the pulley 35 in a stra ght lineto the left so as to bring the handle to the position shown in Fig. 1. By this anovementthe portion eta of the cable will act to pull the needle forward through the leaves. and the needle passes -through with aaninimum resistance because of the preferably used enlarged head there- Vv hen the needle is in the position shown in Fig 1 its barb 20 will have passed through all of the leaves. and a string: may be engaged with the barb as shown in Fig. 1. by the attendant making use of his left hand. The attendant now moves the handle 45 towards the right. which movement when complete will result in the needle pulling the portion d8 of the cable will then act to pull the butt-member of the needle and the needle itself towards thepulle ys 3 9 and 40. The needle having thus drawn the string through the leaves, he free endof thestring may be disengaged from the barb of't'he needle and the string drawn towards the left so as to provide sufliciently. long ends of the string to enable them to besecured in the usual manner around the ends of a lath, which is then hung with theleaveson the beams provided therefor.

It will be seen that the reciprocating-tor ward and backward movement of the needle is preferably accomplished by the very simple-expedient of the flexible cable, and.-

I from the scope of the appended claims.

Nhat I claim as new is: I

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of supporting means provided with a series of spacedrpartiticns having aligned perforations, means for. retaining the ends of articlesin thespaces and for supporting the ,articles individually in spaced relation, and a needle movable 1n the said perforations, the needle being longer than the series of partitions and having a long slender shank and a relatively short and enlarged head, the said head having a piercing point and a barb at its forward end, and the length of said head being such that during its 'movement through the perforations the head is always supported by at least two of the partitions, and the length also being just suflicient to pass through a relatively few of the spaced articles simultaneously whereby to offer the maximum resistance to the passage of the, needle, and whereby a minimum resistance is offered by the other of such articles to the passage of said shank, and said head passing closely through some of said perforations at all times, thereby to assure the shank of the needle against bending from the desired path of movement.

2. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a frame providedwith aseries of aligned pockets, hooks at corresponding sides of the respective pockets for impaling articles, and pointed toward one end 3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a f'rame'provided Wltllfl series of aligned pockets, means for impaling' articles and'looated in the pockets at corre spondinq sides thereof and pointed toward one end of said-series, the pockets hav ng aligned perforationsyan elongated sheath in line with the perforationsand extending in the direction in which the ,impaling means eXtend,-a needle longer than the series of pockets and being normally guided into said sheath, the needle having a-butt-member,v

and needleguide-member fixed transversely end of, the sheath, and adapted to be on in said sheath and located back of the inner I gaged by the butt-member to prevent displacement of the needle entirely from the sheath. i 7 at. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame providedwith a series of aligned pocket-s having a series of aligned perforations, means for retaining the stem ends of tobacco leaves at the poohets, an elongated sheath in line with theper forations, a needle in the sheath and movable through the perforations, a needle gulde ad acent the forward end of the sheath, a

flexible cab'le'having itsends attached to the rear end of the needle, a system of, guide pulleys over which the cable is looped and trained, two of said pulleys being arranged laterally of the series of pockets and provid ing a length of cable laterally opposite to and substantially parallel with said series and to const tute an'actuating portion, and a handle on said actuating portion.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame having means for suspending leaves in succession, a needle adapted to penetratethe leaves and to pass IUD a string therethrough, a system of pulleys" mounted on the frame, and an operating cable attached to the needle and guided on said pulleys, a portion of the cable being arranged laterally of the series of pockets and provided with a handle which is movable in a line substantially parallel with the direction of movement of the needle.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a frame having means for suspending leaves in succession, a needle adapted to penetrate the leaves and to pass a string therethrough, a system of pulleys mounted on the frame, and an operating ca ble attached to the needle and guided on a said pulleys, a portion of the cable being arranged laterally of the series of pockets and provided with a turn-buckle to take up slack I and put tension on the cable, the buckle being also arranged laterally of the series of pockets and serving as a handle which is movable in aline substantially parallel with the direction of movement of the needle.

7. A needle for stringing tobacco leaves, which comprises a long slender shank and adjacent and just back of said point, and

extending toward the shank, rforsubstantially 1 the purposes set forth.

8. A needle for stringing tobacco leaves, whleh comprises a long slender shank and a relatively short and enlarged head which is tapered to the shank, the said head also being tapered to a piercing point and having a barb adjacent and just back of said point, and extending toward the shank, for substantially the purposes set forth.

' WILLIAM EGGERT, JR. 

